Interchangeable last.



P. H. HICKMAN.

INTERCH'ANGBABLE LAST.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 23, 1914.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

WITNESSES: a M m 4.

ATTORNEY- earn tron

INTERCHANGEABLE LAST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15), 1915.

Application filed July 23, 1914. Serial No. 852,699.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK H. HICK- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 995 Clinton avenue, Irvington, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to shoe lasts, and has for its object the provision of a last which is designed to be positioned within a shoe or the like for the purpose of aiding the latter in retaining its shape.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a last in which the movable sections thereof are so cut at their meeting edges that there will be no spaces between the same, and so that they will engage at all times, regardless of the position of the sections, so as to exert an equal pressure throughout the entire length of said last.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a last which will be reliable and efficient in use, simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and strong and durable.

lVith the above and other objects in view the present invention resides in the novel features of construction, formations, combinations, and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved last showing the heel section moved upwardly prior to the insertion of the same in a shoe. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the heel section and rear portion of the toe section, showing the latter partly in elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 4c is a detail face view of the connecting plate removed from the last. Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional view showing the method of locking the connecting plate against movement, and thereby locking the heel and toe sections against movement.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by similar characters of reference throughout the several views, the reference numeral 6 indicates in general my improved last which consists of a toe section 7 and heel section 8, the latter being considerably shorter in length than the said toe section.

A recess 9 is provided in the heel section opening through the top thereof and is provided with a reinforcing bushing 10 to prevent the enlargement of the said recess 9 caused by a constant use of the last in applying the same to a stand or other suitable support, not shown in the drawing.

The adjacent ends of the sections 7 and 8 are provided with recesses or channels 11 and 12 which aline to produce a slot 13, in which is mounted a connecting plate 14, the same being secured rigidly at 15 within the recess 12 of the section 8 by the removable pins 16, which may be removed for the purpose of disconnecting the sections 7 and 8 whereby the same can be repaired, if desired.

The plate 14 extends into the channel 11 conforming substantially to the shape of the bottom and closed end thereof. Removable pins 17 pass through the section 7 and channel formed therein, and likewise through the curved slots 18 formed in the connecting plate 14 to provide a means whereby the sections 7 and 8 can be moved relative to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

One side of the channel 11 is offset as at 19 and disposed within this said offset portion is a spring locking member 20 secured in said offset as shown at 21.

A pin 22 projects from one side of the spring locking member 20 and passes through an opening 23 formed in the connecting plate 14 and engages a recess 24:

formed in the adjacent side of the channel 11. Obviously, when the pin is positioned as shown in Fig. 5 the sections 7 and 8 will be held against any undesired movement. When, however, it is desired to move said sections 7 and 8 relative to each other for the purpose of applying the last to a shoe or the like, the finger of the operator is inserted in the offset portion 19 of the channel 11 into engagement with the finger grip 25 of the spring locking member 20. An inward pressure upon this .member 20 obviously retracts the pin 22 from the opening 23 in the connecting plate 14c and the recess 2-1 in the section 7 which obviously releases the locking engagement between the sections 7 and 8 and permits of their desired adjustment.

It should be understood in this connection that various changes in the specific details of construction can be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention and it should be further understood that I am not to be limited to the use of the last for the purpose of stretching shoes and retaining them in their proper shape but the last may be used by shoe repairers for any purposes Which might present themselves.

From the foregoing, it Will be manifest that a last is provided Which Will fulfil all the necessary requirements of such a device.

What is claimed is:

1. In a last such as described, a plurality of sections having channels formed in their meeting. ends, a plate secured Within the channel of one section and projecting into the channel of the other section, means for movably connecting said plate to one of said sections, and means carried by one of said sections for removably engaging the plate andsection for locking the sections against movement.

2. In a last of the character described, a

heel and a toe section, having meeting faces contacting throughout their entire length, said sections having channels formed in the meeting ends thereof, a plate rigidly secured Within the channel of one section, and movably secured Within the channel of the other section, said plate having an opening formed therein, the adjacent section having a recess formed therein for alinement With the opening in the plate, a spring locking member secured Within one of said sections, and a pin projecting from said spring locking member and engaging the opening in the plate and recess in the section.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PATRICK H. HICKMAN. W'itnesses:

EMIT A. KERN, PHILIPP CRAMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

